One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WWE History

19. 2006 - WWE Turned Down A Charismatic UFC Star

WWE's Deepest Secrets Vince McMahon
WWE

If an athlete is good enough to compete at NCAA level, they catch the attention of WWE. The NIL programme is designed for that express purpose, but before that was launched, the promotion once drew on the deep knowledge and endless connections of scout Gerald Brisco - himself a gifted and decorated amateur wrestler - to recruit those deemed well-equipped to make the transition. 

According to Dave Meltzer, Brisco recommended Ben Askren, who in 2006 became the NCAA Division I Collegiate National Champion. Brisco felt that Askren had the charisma necessary to make the jump, but WWE felt he lacked the size. No serious attempt to recruit him was made as a result. Askren was considered a marketable personality and a box office prospect in the UFC before ultimately failing to live up to the hype. 

He was infamously humiliated by Jorge Masvidal in 2019, and three years later declared MMA a “sh*tty career” in an interview with MMAJunkie. A sh*t-talking wrestler so incredible that the idea of him beating the invincible, undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t completely out of the question, his career may have turned out differently - had the promoter been in control of the outcome. 

Ironically, a move to WWE - which struggled badly to create new stars in 2006 and well beyond - would have benefitted both parties.

 
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Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!